Prime Minister Imran Khan is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Pakistan and graduated from Keble College, Oxford in 1975. Before entering politics, Khan was an international cricketer and captain of the Pakistan national cricket team, which he led to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup.
The relationship between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is based on well-recognized principles of international diplomacy. Both countries value this broad-based relationship due to its mutual benefit and hopefully, it will continue to strengthen in the coming years. Both countries are located in South Asia region. The earliest proper diplomatic and trade ties between Pakistan and Sri Lanka date back as early as 1948. In the past, Pakistan assisted the Government of Sri Lanka in supplying High-Tech military equipment to the Sri Lankan army in the civil war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The relationship also fosters on strong mutual Sino-Pakistan and Sino-Sri Lankan relationship. Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka are also members of SAARC. Relations which were generally warm have become into stronger recently. The relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka date back to the formative years of the two countries. The two countries laid the foundation of their friendship in 1948 when Prime Minister of Sri Lanka DS Senanayake visited Pakistan.
Recently, Virtual business forum in collaboration with Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB) took place to enhance awareness regarding trade and investment opportunities between the two friendly countries on 18th September, 2020. Pakistan deeply values its first Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which was signed with Sri Lanka in 2005. He expressed the High Commission’s complete support and facilitation in developing deeper economic cooperation with Sri Lanka through optimal utilization of the Pakistan – Sri Lanka FTA, which is the major tool for trade promotion between the two countries. Pakistan has improved its ranking from 136th to 108th place on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index 2020, thereby being ranked as the 6th biggest reformer in the world, to improve the business environment.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka enjoy very cordial and friendly
relations. Despite Sri Lanka’s geographical
position, Sri Lanka has had good bilateral cooperation
with Pakistan.
Pakistani military has assisted Sri Lankan government
during the Sri Lankan civil war, after that, Pakistan’s
military assistance and cooperation has always increased
and is still increasing.
There are also good economic and trade relations.
Both countries have a free trade agreement. Pakistan
is the second-largest trading partner of
Sri Lanka in South Asia. Sri Lanka was the first country to sign a Free Trade Agreement with Pakistan, which became operational from June 12, 2005. 4,000 items can be imported to Pakistan from Sri Lanka
Cricket is also one of the factors that brings the two countries closer. Both countries have played many important and memorable games with each other, and the sport is popular in both countries. Many Pakistanis know about Sri Lanka as a country just through cricket!
“Long Live Relationship of Sri Lanka and Pakistan”